| Product: |
Basil |
| Date: |
31/03/02 (120 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Lots of uses, Tastes Nice
Disadvantages: Can be difficult to grow
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a tender annual herb, which comes from the Orient and flowers from July onwards. There are varieties with purple leaves and some have different sized leaves, the smaller leaves varieties tend to have a richer flavour.
There are also many wild varieties and decorative ones that are named according to their flavour or leaf form, such as dwarf, lemon and curly basil.
When planting out basil it should be kept in a warm sunny place that it out of the wind, if possible it should also be placed in humus rich soil for best results.
If you want to grow basil from seeds, they should be sowed in warmth under glass form the end of March. These seeds need light so don not cover them up and they also need lots of moisture. After the danger of frost has passed you should plant them out spacing them about 6in by 6in apart.
Basil is a very sensitive plant and snails adore them so I recommend that you either keep basil on a kitchen windowsill or put them in window boxes. If you do decide to grow them outside in soil apply fertiliser regularly, but do not plant in soil full of manure, basil hates manure.
You can harvest basil as soon as the plants are strong enough, you can pick the tips of the shoots continually, and this helps the plant to develop a bushy habit.
Basil's aroma is strongest just before it flowers, so this is the best time for the main harvest, remember though it you freeze the leaves they will lose much of their flavour.
If you freeze them in vinegar or oil, it does tend to conserve more of the flavour. To use the leaves fresh simply tear up fresh leaves into small pieces and add to the food just before serving but do not cook them with foods. Basil can be added to salads, sauces and meat dishes especially those contains garlic and wine.
Basil also has some other properties such as when basil is in the ground it deters flies. The essential oils have a calming effect tha
t can help with stomach upsets and lack of appetite. When put in tea it can help with coughs.
Basil is a great herb that is fairly easy to nurture, and can have a variety of uses.
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